UMaine men building around defense Reed still sidelined with injury

Now that finals are over, members of the University of Maine men’s basketball team will have a little down time before heading back to the court while standout guard Kevin Reed’s status remains in limbo.

The Black Bears are 3-7 heading into the break with a two-day stay in Chattanooga, Tenn., for the Dr. Pepper Classic following Dec. 29-30.

The Bears are 0-2 in America East conference play, but head coach Ted Woodward sees a lot of silver linings to go along with the black and blue.

“We’ve done a pretty good job defensively. We’re second in points allowed and we have the best defensive field-goal percentage defense [opponents are shooting 40.3 percent per game]. That’s been a strong area for us,” Woodward said. “We’ve struggled with our consistency, but we’re a young team and we expected to have some tough games early on.”

In fact, Maine ranks in the top three in nine of the AE’s 19 team statistical categories – scoring defense, scoring margin (minus-0.6 points), field-goal percentage defense, 3-point percentage defense (33.7), free-throw percentage (first at 71.5), defensive rebounds (first at 25.2), rebounding offense (36.9), 3-pointers made (first at 7.6 per game), and blocked shots (4.3 per game).

Some of the Bears’ early season statistical success is accentuated somewhat by non-conference schedule strength, which would be less than that of AE rivals such as Boston University and Vermont.

“We’ve played a lot of good teams on the road and have only lost to one sub-.500 team all season,” said Woodward.

The Bears graduated their entire frontcourt, but that weak area has grown stronger the last few games with the continued development of junior center Olli Ahvenniemi – who leads the AE in blocks with 2.6 per game through Wednesday – and true freshman Philippe Tchekane Bofia, who are meshing to form a solid 1-2 inside presence.

An area of strength was dealt a huge blow when preseason all-conference selection Reed broke a bone in his left foot (stress fracture of the fifth metatarsal) before the team’s Blue-White intrasquad scrimmage back in late October.

“It’s probably one of the worst places to have this kind of injury, but I’m on schedule and I’m just having to take it one day at a time and see what the X-rays tell us,” Reed said.

Reed was expected to miss at least four to six weeks. Seven weeks later, his status is uncertain at best. Could designating him as a medical redshirt, making him ineligible this season but eligible for a fifth season next year, be an option?

“I don’t know that we’ve gotten that far along,” Woodward said. “Would we redshirt him? I don’t know at this point.”

Reed is optimistic about his ongoing rehabilitation.

“I feel stronger and I’m starting to get the muscle I lost by not using it back,” said Reed of his left leg. “I’ve been walking on it now for almost three weeks and I probably could run, but I’m not going to until the doctor says so.”

In his absence, senior guard Ernest Turner has become the team’s go-to player. The Camden, N.J., native is averaging 16.9 points (second in America East), 3.5 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game.

Junior point guard Rashard Turner (no relation) is second among AE players with 4.7 assists a game as he continues to make the transition from shooting guard. Fellow junior college transfer guard Jon Sheets is first among AE players in 3-pointers made (28) and fourth in shooting percentage (43.1).

“We got caught shorthanded without Kevin, but we have had some guys step up to help make up for his absence,” Woodward said. “The thing is, it almost takes three guys to make up for what Kevin does as one player.”

Maine’s three statistical problem areas are turnover margin (eighth among nine teams with 14.8 per game and a minus-1.90 margin), assist-to-turnover ratio (eighth at 0.69) and rebounding defense (37.6 per game).

“Our turnovers, I didn’t think, would be as much of a problem, but I really don’t have a lot that I’m disappointed in,” said Woodward. “We need more consistency in our ballhandling and our rebounding.”